Giants add former major leaguer to pitching staff

After trading left-hander Matt Moore to the Texas Rangers this offseason, Giants’ general manager Bobby Evans seemed reluctant to add a major league veteran to the club’s starting staff.

Though highly valued arms like Yu Darvish and Jake Arrieta remain available on the free agent market, Evans and the Giants made a smaller move Friday, signing free agent left-hander Derek Holland to a minor league contract.

A nine-year veteran, Holland spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Texas Rangers before pitching for the Chicago White Sox last summer. Holland, 31, owns a career ERA of 4.57, but went 7-14 with a 6.20 ERA for the White Sox last season.

The Giants expect to have four internal candidates –Chris Stratton, Ty Blach, Tyler Beede and Andrew Suarez– compete for the final two spots in the team’s rotation this spring, but Holland could receive an opportunity to work his way onto the roster with strong performances in Cactus League play this spring.